Folding crate



(M0881.) n y D. E. EVANS.

- FOLDING GRATL".

No. 852,188. Patented Nov. 9, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID E. EVANS, OF VENEDOCIA, OHIO.

FOLDING CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 352,183, dated November 9, 1886.`

Application filed August Q0, 1886. ,Serial No. 211,387. (Model.)

n.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID EJEVANS, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Venedocia, in the county of Van Vert and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, 4and to the letters and figures of reference marked Jtaihereon, which form a part of this specificaion.

This invention relates to folding crates; and it consists in the novel features more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed, and shown in the annexedl drawings, in which- Y Figure 1 is a side view of the crate set up and ready for use. Fig. 2 is a plan view show- 'ing the cover removed. Fig. 3 is a section on the line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an end view, and Fig. 5 is a side view, partsbroken, showing it in a folded position. v

The crate comprises the bottom A, ends B, sides C, and top or cover D. The bottom is provided with an upwardly-projecting rim, A', sufficiently high to inclose the ends B vand side G of the crate when folded.4 It projects from near the edges of the bottom, andis composed of end sections, a, and si'de sections, c. The sides and ends' aref supported directly upon the upper edge'of the rim. The lower edges of the ends 4B are provided with battens b,and

` the upper edge of the end sections, a, are

, strengthened by corresponding battens,`b. The

proximate edges of the battens are in the same plane, and are held together by hooks d and oyes d'. The upper edges of the ends have battens b2 to 'receive strips d2, depending from each end of thecover. The battens b2 are at a distance from the edge corresponding with the width of the strips d2, which overlap the sides and prevent longitudinal displacement. The cover is held in place at one end by hooks and eyes similar to those for holding the ends to the bottoni, and at theA other or both ends byI a bent fastener, e, depending from the strip d, .fitting in a groove, ef, cutin the batten b2, and

4having its bent end turned to engage with the under side of said batten b2. The bent fastener eis secured to the cover in` such manner as to rotate about its shank as an axis, in order to be engaged with or disengaged from the batten. f When the bent end is turned to register with the groove, the cover may be disengaged by elevating the end provided with the bend sufficiently far to disen gage the hooks and eyes at the opposite end, 'about which it turns as a hinge during this movement. When the bent end is turned to engage the under side of the y batten, the top is fastened, as will be readily understood.

The inner lower corners ofthe sides C have plates or battens ot' wood, F, fastened thereto, the lower ends of which, projecting beyond the edges of the sides and extending a short distance within and overlapping the inner portion 4of the side sections, a', of the rim A, hold the sides from outward displacement at the lower edges when set up. Their Ainward displacement is prevented by bearing against the edges of theends and intermediate partition or partitions. The outward displacement of the upper edges is prevented by straps, G, secured to the upper edges of the ends and partition and having their outer ends, g, bent downward' and embracing the edges. The plates F have flanges f bent inward toward each other to resist and limit the inward pressure or movement of the ends, (or the wooden blocks have squared edges to answer the same purpose.)

In case it is desired to divide the crate, a partition, H, constructed like one of the ends is provided'and held at the desired point between flanges f of the plates or battens F,

filled, the cover is hooked at one endturned down, and secured at the other ley-turning the bent end of the fastener e under the batten b2. For reshipping the crate, the reverse operation is practiced in taking it apart. The ends are Then either end can- IOC packed on each side ofthe central strip, 7i, the upper and lower edges being placed parallel with the sides of the bottom. The partition is placed on top of one of the ends, with the edge having the straps at right angles to the length of the bottom, outs Zbeing formed in the upper edge of the side sections, c', of the rim to permit the passage of the ends of the straps G. ,As the side sections of the riin A are thicker than the sides C, a portion is re- Y moved at one side of the cuts Z, forming a recess, l', in which the ends g rest, (or the partition is made in two pieces, so it will go inside like the ends.) The sides are placed on top the partition; and, lastly, the cover is hooked at one end and secured at the other end by the bent fastener c to the hatten Z/ in a manner similar to that by which it is secured to the betten b2 when the crate is set up; orboth ends of the cover may be secured by bent fasteners. Having thus `:described my invention, what Iclain1,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the bottom having an upwardly-projecting rim, and ents formed in the upper edges of its opposite side sections, and a partition having straps secured to its upper edge for embracing thesides, and adapted to lie in said cuts when the crate is folded, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 2. The herein-described crate, consisting of the bottom, the ends having battens near the upper edge projecting on each side, the sides fitting against theedges of the'ends and having the projecting ends of the battens bearing npon their end edges, straps secured to the upper edges of the end pieces and extending over, bent down upon, and embracing the upper edges of the sides, and the cover secured at one end by hooks and eyes, and at the other end by a bent fastener fitted in a groove in the batt-en and turned under the same, substantially as set forth.

3. The herein shown and described folding crate, consisting of the bottom having an up wardly-projecting rim, the end pieces resting upon the end sections of the rim, battens secured to the proximate edges of the end pieces and rim-sections, hooks and eyes for securing the ends to the rim-sections, the sides, flanged plates (or battons of wood) secured `to the lower inner corners of the sides and projecting within the rim, straps secured to the upper edges of the end pieces, and having their outer ends bent down over and embracing` the upper edges of the sides, and the cover secured at one end by hooks and eyes, and at the other end by a bent fastener fitting a groove in a betten secured near the upperend of the end piece, and turned to engage the under side of it, substantially as set forth.

In `testimony WhereofI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID E. EVANS.

Vitiiesses:

i D. XV. EVANS,

MAGGIE J. Everts. 

